The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem called for October 17 to be a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Holy Land.
Through a press release, the patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, points out that the region is facing what he calls an “unprecedented sea of violence.” He says it is important to consider that the spiral of violence does not seem likely to stop any time soon, but rather it is likely there will be more destruction. For this reason, in the name of all the bishops of the Holy Land, Cardinal Pizzaballa invited all the parishes and other communities to fast and pray for peace and reconciliation.
The Patriarch was created a cardinal by Pope Francis during the most recent consistory on September 30. A few days before the celebration, he described the situation in the region.
CARD. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
We are living in a difficult time, where negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians has not existed for years. The distrust is increasingly more profound. We are also witnessing a very serious division within the two respective societies: Israeli and Palestinian.
Cardinal Pizzaballa described this growing tension prior to the recent intensification of attacks by the Hamas group and Israel's response. Particularly in the country's Catholic community, there is a fear of further polarization and increased violence against those who cannot defend themselves. The Latin Patriarchate's website published photos of the violence and destruction that erupted around the parish in Gaza.
JRB
TR: KG
